Kylian Mbappé was at the heart of all three goals as Real Madrid delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Athletic Club in LaLiga, extending Los Blancos’ impressive record to just one defeat in their last seven head-to-heads against the Lehoiak.
Following Real Madrid’s recent 1-1 draw against Girona, the game started with intense action at both ends, as Athletic’s goalkeeper Unai Simón was forced into two quick saves to deny Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior after shaky defending in the opening minutes.
But the French superstar wasn’t to be denied. In the seventh minute, he collected a precise pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold, elegantly glided past Iñigo Lekue, cut inside Aymeric Laporte, and thundered the ball past Simón to give Madrid the lead. Interestingly, Softfootball earlier reported that that Trent assist was his first in the Spanish top flight.
Athletic tried to respond, with Gorka Guruzeta blazing a chance over from a Nico Williams cross, but Real’s attack remained relentless. Courtois made a series of crucial stops, keeping out Guruzeta and Álex Berenguer, while Vinícius Júnior struck the post from a tight angle.
Real Madrid doubled their advantage before halftime when Mbappé cleverly headed Alexander-Arnold’s cross back across the goal for Eduardo Camavinga to nod in.
The goal was very important for the game, and it was evident in the celebratory video of the Frenchman uploaded via the team’s official X account.
Watch video below:
The second half saw Athletic make early changes to spark a comeback, yet Mbappé immediately threatened again with a close-range effort. Courtois was again called into action to deny Mikel Jauregizar, but the decisive moment came when Mbappé, unfazed by a scuffle with Adama Boiro, unleashed an audacious long-range strike that sealed the victory.
Madrid suffered a couple of injury setbacks, with Alexander-Arnold and Camavinga forced off, yet the team’s rhythm remained intact. Athletic pushed late but couldn’t find the target, leaving them with their fourth defeat in six league games.
The win was crucial for Real Madrid, halting a three-game draw streak and keeping them hot on the heels of leaders Barcelona, just a single point behind. Mbappé’s masterclass performance underscored his role as the driving force behind Los Blancos’ resurgence this season.
